Tariff impact: Imports slightly up at Port of Los Angeles as empty containers surge

Port of Los Angeles, US (Photo: NYTimes / Phaata)

The Port of Los Angeles saw a slight increase in cargo volumes in March 2025 amid uncertainty over the trade outlook due to concerns about new tariffs.

As the busiest container port in the US, the Port of Los Angeles handled a total of 778,406 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in March, up 4.7% from the same period in 2024. The positive results contributed to a strong first quarter of 2025, with total throughput reaching 2,504,049 TEUs, up 5.2% year-over-year.

“Our volume remained strong throughout the first quarter, and we’ve now seen year-over year growth in 18 of the last 20 months,” said Gene Seroka, the port’s executive director, during a press conference. He also expressed optimism for the start of the second quarter, expecting imports to pick up as retailers prepare for the spring-summer and back-to-school seasons.

Specifically, in March, import container volumes reached 385,531 TEUs, up 1.6% year-on-year; while export containers reached 122,975 TEUs, down 15%.

Notably, the number of empty containers jumped 23% to 269,900 TEUs – highlighting the imbalance in international cargo flows.

Despite the positive start, Seroka warned of challenges ahead. He forecasts that cargo volumes in the second half of 2025 could fall by at least 10% compared to 2024, driven by two main reasons: many importers have proactively increased their inventories (frontloading), and consumer sentiment could be negatively affected by import tariffs and trade retaliation. “With tariffs and counter-tariffs dominating the news, I expect we’ll see cargo decline in the second half of the year at least 10% compared to 2024,” Seroka said. “That’s because many importers have already brought their goods in early, and as prices begin to rise, consumers will think twice about many purchases.”

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Freight Waves)

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